Method, device and container for dosing ink

ABSTRACT

The method involves providing ink in a container having deformable walls; placing the container in a dosing system comprising a deposit into which a dosage of ink is poured; providing ink in a container with deformable walls that is fitted with means for opening the container, supporting the filled or partially filled container in the dosing system; opening the container with the aid of the opening means thereby defining a hole and exerting pressure against the walls of said container and against said hole with the aid of pressing or flattening means. Due to the deforming properties of the walls of the container and as a result of the flattening of the walls, the combined pressing action pushes the ink contained in the container against the hole through which a dosage of ink is poured out.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process and a device for dispensinginks, as well to an ink container to use in conjunction with the processand the device.

The process of the invention is of the type that comprise supplying inkin a container and arranging the container in a dispensing system, whichcomprises a tank wherein doses of ink are poured, while the device is ofthe type which comprise support means for the ink container, inkdispensing means and a tank wherein doses of ink are poured from the inkcontainer.

The present invention is equally applicable to inks, paints and basicdyes for producing paints.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The supply of ink, in particular in printing machines and in ink blocksand systems to produce paint mixtures from primary bases, is performedconventionally from a tank for the dye or paint, from where, by pumpingor gravity, the paint or the dye is carried to the dispenser to bedispensed, to the ink block in some cases, or a mixture of both inothers.

Currently, inks or paint mainly come packaged in tin-type containers,from where they are carried, conventionally manually using spatulas, tosaid receptacles. Likewise, the mixture of primary bases to producepaints is mainly performed manually, providing previously estimateddoses of each dye from the tins in a receptacle.

The almost universal use of tins as containers for these inks or primarybases, involves a first type of problems, derived from the use of theseconventional containers. On the one handy, once used, for reasons ofenvironmental requirements, these conventional tin-type containersshould obligatorily be recycled or eliminated, which, due to the highweight/volume ratio of the empty tins, considerably increases the costof transport to the recycling plant or to the dump, consequentlyincreasing the final cost of the printing or the manufactured paint. Onthe other hand, handling the tins supposes an important bottleneck inthe entire production process, and makes it more labour intensive, whichalso redounds negatively in the final cost for the user.

Another type of problem is inherent to the product dispensing. Therethus exists a good number of embodiments of automatic or semi-automaticdispensing systems of ink or paint from the receptacle, from where it isdispensed to a lower receptacle provided with a load cell which, once itcaptures a predetermined weight of dye, orders the closure of the uppertank valve to stop the pouring. In the case of paint manufacturing, thisoperation is repeated for each one of the primary bases until themixture is formed with the desired proportions from each one of them.

Although these current automatic or semi-automatic systems have correctfunctionality, they are not completely free from problems and drawbacks,among which we can highlight the notorious complexity and high price andthe fact that final dripping occurs when the valve is closed which maylessen the accuracy of the dispensing, dirtying the fittings, inparticular the tank, wherein dry residues may remain, and hindering thesubsequent operation.

In the case of UV dyes, as these contain additional photoinitiationadditives, when pumps are involved, the additional problem arises thatthe friction produced in the pump may damage the dye.

The present invention has the purpose of providing the simultaneoussolution to all the previous problems stated in the art.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

For said purpose, according to a first aspect of the present invention,the object of the present invention is a process for dispensing inks ofthe type indicated at the start, of novel concept and functionality,which is essentially characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

-   -   supplying the ink in a container with deformable walls, provided        with container opening means;    -   supporting the full or partially full container in the        dispensing system;    -   opening the container using the opening means, determining an        opening; and    -   exerting pressure, using pressure and flattening means, against        the container walls, against said outlet,        so that the combined action of compression pushes the ink        contained in the container, thanks to the possibility of        deforming the container walls, by the flattening thereof,        against the opening, whereby a dose of ink exits.

According to another characteristic of the process of the invention, thestep of exerting pressure is performed for a predetermined time, saiddoses of ink being in accordance with said predetermined time.

The process may comprise a dispensing time control step, wherein saidpredetermined time is controlled by control means.

Said control step preferably comprises measuring the weight of the dosewhich exits the outlet.

The time control step may also comprise measuring the height, in thetank, of the dispensed fluid of the dose that exits the outlet.

According to another characteristic of the process of the invention, theoutlet is fixed, in the dispensing system, in a lower position, and saidpressure is exerted downwards against the deformable walls of thecontainer.

In a first preferred variant, the step of exerting pressure comprisesexerting pressure using a plunger.

In a second preferred variant, the step of exerting pressure comprisesexerting pressure by the action of at least two antagonistic cylinderswhich are vertically placed downwards against the container walls.

In a third preferred variant, the step of exerting pressure comprisesexerting pressure using at least one cylinder which is simultaneouslyvertically displaced downwards against the deformable walls of thecontainer and against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem.

In a fourth preferred variant, the step of exerting pressure comprisessimultaneously exerting pressure against the deformable walls of thecontainer and against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem, by a handle of a connecting rod-handle mechanism actuated by amanual plunger or lever.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a containeris disclosed to dispense inks, to be used in a disclosed process,characterized in that its walls are deformable.

According to the invention, the container may comprise an outlet todispense the contained ink.

The container of the invention may further comprise outlet-openingmeans.

In a first variant of the opening means, they comprise a stopper.

In a second variant of the opening means, they comprise a device of thetype known as “push-pull”, wherein when an element surrounding theoutlet is pulled, it opens, closing when said element is pressed.

It has also has been provided that the container according to thepresent invention may comprise coupling means of the outlet to the fixedpart of the dispensing system.

In another variant of the opening means, they comprise a lower valve,whose valve body comprises an inner space which connects to the insideof the container, the sealing element of the valve being a cap,displaceable between a position of maximum opening and a closedposition, wherein the larger base of the seal is essentially level withthe valve outlet, closing the container.

In said case, the sealing element is preferably joined to an actuatingrod which runs through the inside of said inner cylindrical space of thevalve body and which is actuated by a tappet, against the action of aspring.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a device is disclosed fordispensing inks, for the implementation of an aforementioned process andto be used in conjunction with an aforementioned container, and which isessentially characterized in that it comprises container outlet openingmeans, and in that the ink dispensing means comprise means for exertingpressure against the deformable walls of the container, against saidcontainer outlet, so that the combined action of compression pushes theink contained in the container, thanks to the possibility of deformingthe deformable walls of the container, by the flattening thereof,against the opening, whereby a dose of ink exits towards said tank.

According to another characteristic, the device comprises operating timecontrol means for the pressure and flattening means on the container.

Preferably, the control means comprise means to measure the weight ofthe dose of ink that exits the container outlet.

Also preferably, the control means comprise height measuring means, inthe tank, of the fluid dispensed of the dose that exits the outlet.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening means are arranged in a lowerposition, and the pressure and flattening means are adapted for exertingpressure downwards against the deformable walls of the container.

In a first variant of the pressure and flattening means, they comprise aplunger that acts on deforming the container against the opening.

In a second variant of the pressure and flattening means, they compriseat least two antagonistic cylinders which are displaced vertically andin parallel to one another against the deformable walls of the containerand against the opening.

In a third variant of the pressure and flattening means, they compriseat least one cylinder which is simultaneously vertically displaceddownwards against the deformable walls of the container, against afixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensing system and against theopening.

In a fourth variant of the pressure and flattening means, they comprisea handle of a connecting rod-handle mechanism actuated by a plunger,adapted to simultaneously exert pressure against the deformable walls ofthe container, against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem and against the opening.

In a fifth variant of the pressure and flattening means, they comprise aplate, actuated by at least one cylinder, which exerts pressuresimultaneously and perpendicularly against the deformable walls of thecontainer and against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem.

People skilled in the art will appreciate that the process, device andcontainer of the present invention integrate a single general inventiveconcept, whose new and inventive characteristics permit resolving theaforementioned drawbacks. Furthermore, the scope of application of thepresent invention is not limited to its use in paints and dyes, but itcan be extended to products of similar rheology to that of dyes andpaints which have similar dispensing problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, a detailed description will be made of the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, for which, in order to help towards its betterunderstanding, drawings are attached, merely given by way ofnon-limiting example, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic views corresponding to different variants ofthe ink containers of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are two schematic views, that show other variants of theink container outlet opening means;

FIGS. 7 to 11 are elevational schematic views that show differentembodiments of the pressure and flattening means of the device of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an application of the present invention to aprinting body system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIGS. 1 to 4 of said drawings it can be seen that a container 1, 2,3, 4, 10 according to the invention may adopt different forms. Thecontainers 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 of the invention are particularly, althoughnot exclusively, applicable to the storage of inks to be used in thegraphic industry, for their subsequent dispensing according to theprocess and in the device of the invention.

This dispensing process, of a known form, comprises supplying the ink ina container 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and providing the container 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 ina dispensing system, which comprises a tank 6 wherein doses of ink arepoured.

For the embodiment of the process of the invention, the container 1, 2,3, 4, 10 has deformable walls and an outlet.

In this way, according to the invention, the process further comprisesthe steps of: supplying the ink in the container 1, 2, 3, 4; supportingthe partially full or full container 1, 2, 3, 4, in the dispensingsystem 5; opening the outlet of the container 1, 2, 3, 4; exertingpressure, by pressure and flattening means, against the container walls1, 2, 3, 4, against the opening.

In this way, the combined action of compression pushes the ink containedin the container 1, 2, 3, 4, thanks to the possibility of deformation byflattening the walls thereof, against the opening, whereby doses of ink,conveniently measured and restricted, exit.

In this way it manages to combine an ink dispensing system, with theprovision thereof in containers which may be of elastic, plastic orpaper containers, enabling the costly manipulation of tins of dye orpaint to be eliminated.

Examples of containers according to the invention are: an essentiallycylindrical bag 1, e.g. plastic, aluminium or paper material, with thelongitudinal ends 33, 34 closed by any means, e.g. heat welding (FIG.1); a bag 2 like the previous one, but provided with a screw cap 7 atone of its ends (FIG. 2); a bag 3 of squared front format and sideformat which is essentially oval (FIG. 3), with flat protrudingprojections 8 on the edges; and a bag 2 like that of FIG. 3, butprovided with a screw cap 7 at one of its ends (FIG. 4).

The container 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 of the invention may compriseoutlet-opening means, like an aforementioned screw cap 7. FIG. 5illustrates an example wherein the container outlet has a screw cap 7,which may be of conventional type.

The opening means may comprise a “push-pull” type device (not shown inthe drawings), wherein when an element surrounding the outlet is pulled,it opens, closing when said element is pressed.

The outlet of the container 1, 2, 3, 3 perfectly couples to the fixedpart of the dispensing system 5 by outlet coupling means.

FIG. 6 shows an example of embodiment of the opening means, providedwith a lower valve 9, whose valve body comprises an inner space 11 whichconnects to the inside of the container, the sealing element 13 of thevalve being a cap 14, displaceable between a position of maximum openingand a closed position, wherein the larger base 15 of the seal isessentially level with the valve outlet, closing the container.

The sealing element 13 is joined to an actuating rod 16 which runsthrough the inside of said inner cylindrical space of the valve body andwhich is actuated by a tappet 17, against the action of a spring 18.

For the ink dispensing of the invention, for the implementation of theprocess to use in conjunction with a container 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 of thosedescribed comprises support means for the ink container 1, 2, 3, 4, 10,ink dispensing means and a tank 6 wherein doses of ink from thecontainer 1, 2, 3, 4 are poured. The device further comprises containeroutlet-opening means, and means for exerting pressure against thedeformable walls of the container, against said container outlet, sothat, as has been mentioned, the combined action of compression pushesthe ink contained in the container 1, 2, 3, 4, thanks to the possibilitydeforming the deformable walls of the container 1, 2, 3, 4, by theflattening thereof, against the opening, whereby the doses of ink exitto said tank 6.

The device preferably comprises operating time control means for thepressure and flattening means on the container 1, 2, 3, 4. With theoperating time control means of the pressure means, the step of exertingpressure is performed for a predetermined time, said ink doses being inaccordance with said predetermined time. The process may also optionallycomprise a dispensing time control step, wherein said predetermined timeis controlled by the control means.

A possibility contemplated for the control means is that they are meansto measure the weight of the dose of ink that exits the container outlet1, 2, 3, 4, so that it controls the quantity of ink dispensed. In thisway, said time control step comprises the measuring of the weight dosethat exits the outlet.

Another possibility consists of providing height-measuring means, in thetank 6, of the dispensed fluid of the dose that exits the outlet, inorder to be able to, for example, keep the height of ink constant in thetank 6.

In the examples of embodiment illustrated, the opening means arearranged in lower position, and the pressure and flattening means areadapted for exerting pressure downwards against the deformable walls ofthe container 1, 2, 3, 4.

FIG. 7 represents a first example of embodiment wherein the pressure andflattening means comprise a plunger 19 that acts on deforming thecontainer against the opening of the container 10, which is retainedbetween the walls 20 of the dispensing system 5.

FIG. 8 represents a second example of embodiment, wherein the pressureand flattening means comprise at least two antagonistic cylinders 21,22, which are displaced vertically and in parallel to one anotheragainst the deformable walls of the container 10 and against theopening. This flattening occurs with the parallel lowering of thecylinders 21, 22.

FIG. 9 represents a third example of embodiment, wherein the pressureand flattening means comprise at least one cylinder 23 which aresimultaneously vertically displaced downwards against the deformablewalls of the container 10, against a fixed, non-deformable wall 20 ofthe dispensing system 5 and against the opening.

FIG. 10 represents a fourth example of embodiment, wherein the pressureand flattening means comprise a handle 24 of a connecting rod 25-handle24 mechanism, actuated by a plunger, adapted for simultaneously exertingpressure against the deformable walls of the container 10, against afixed non-deformable wall 20 of the dispensing system 5 and against theopening. The handle 24 has a certain curve to facilitate the deformationof the container 10.

FIG. 11 represents a fifth example of embodiment, wherein the pressureand flattening means comprise a plate 26, actuated by at least onecylinder 27, which exerts pressure simultaneously and perpendicularlyagainst the deformable walls of the container 10 and against a fixed,non-deformable wall 20 of the dispensing system.

FIG. 12 shows a specific example of application of the presentinvention, in particular, to a system of printing bodies. Typically,this system consists of a lower tank 6, wherein a level 28 of ink 29 ismaintained. Several rollers 30, 31, 32 transfer the ink 29 to a finalsupport, wherein the image of the last of the rollers will be printed,for example, by transfer. In this specific example, a specific case hasbeen represented wherein a system of printing bodies is applied todispensing devices wherein the pressure and flattening means comprisetwo antagonistic cylinders 21, 22 and the container 10 has a screw cap7.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to inkdispensing, it is also applicable to the dispensing of paints, basicdyes to produce paints, as well as to other products of similarrheology.

The container, the process and the device claimed below, constitute asingle general inventive concept, since each of the three aspectsclaimed has been conceived and devised for its use in the remaining twoconcepts.

1. Process for ink dispensing, of the type that comprise supplying inkin a container, and the container having a dispensing system, thatcomprises a tank where doses of ink are poured, characterized in that itcomprises the steps of: supplying the ink in a container with deformablewalls, provided with container opening means; supporting the full orpartially full container in the dispensing system; opening the containerusing the opening means, determining an opening; and exerting pressure,using pressure and flattening means, against the container walls,against said opening, so that the combined action of compression pushesthe ink contained in the container, thanks to the possibility ofdeforming the container walls, by the flattening thereof, against theopening, whereby a dose of ink exits.
 2. Process according to claim 1,characterized in that the step of exerting pressure is performed for apredetermined time, said ink dose being in accordance with saidpredetermined time.
 3. Process according to claim 2, characterized inthat it comprises a dispensing time control step, wherein saidpredetermined time is controlled by control means.
 4. Process accordingto claim 3, characterized in that said time control step comprises themeasuring of the weight that exits the outlet.
 5. Process according toclaim 3, characterized in that said time control step comprisesmeasuring the height, in the tank, of the dispensed fluid of the dosewhich exits the outlet.
 6. Process according to claim 1, characterizedin that said outlet is fixed, in the dispensing system, in a lowerposition, and said pressure is exerted downwards against the deformablewalls of the container.
 7. Process according to claim 1, characterizedin that the step of exerting pressure comprises exerting pressure usinga manual plunger and/or lever.
 8. Process according to claim 1,characterized in that the step of exerting pressure comprises exertingpressure by the action of at least two antagonistic cylinders which aredisplaced vertically downwards against the container walls.
 9. Processaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the step of exertingpressure comprises exerting pressure using at least one cylinder whichis simultaneously vertically displaced downwards against the deformablewalls of the container and against a fixed, non-deformable wall of thedispensing system.
 10. Process according to claim 1, characterized inthat the step of exerting pressure comprises simultaneously exertingpressure against the deformable walls of the container and against afixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensing system, using a handle of aconnecting rod-handle mechanism actuated by a plunger.
 11. Container forink dispensing, to be used in a process according to claim 1,characterized in that its walls are deformable.
 12. Container accordingto claim 11, characterized in that it comprises an outlet for the inkcontained to be dispensed.
 13. Container according to claim 12,characterized in that it comprises outlet-opening means.
 14. Containeraccording to claim 13, characterized in that said opening means comprisea cap.
 15. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that saidopening means comprise a “push-pull” type device, wherein when theelement which surrounds the outlet is pulled, it opens, closing whensaid element is pressed.
 16. Container according to claim 11,characterized in that it comprises coupling means of the outlet to thefixed part of the dispensing system.
 17. Container according to claim11, characterized in that said opening means comprise a lower valve,whose valve body comprises an inner space which connects to the insideof the container, the valve sealing element being a cap, displaceablebetween a position of maximum opening and a closed position, wherein thelarger base of the seal is essentially level with the valve outlet,closing the container.
 18. Container according to claim 17,characterized in that said sealing element is joined to an actuating rodwhich runs inside said inner cylindrical space of the valve body and isactuated in turn by a tappet, against the action of a spring.
 19. Inkdispensing device, for the implementation of a process according toclaim 1 and to be used in conjunction with a container having deformablewalls and a container outlet, of the type of devices that comprisesupport means for the ink container, ink dispensing means and a tankwherein doses of ink are poured from the ink container, characterized inthat it comprises container outlet opening means, and in that the inkdispensing means comprise means for exerting pressure against thedeformable walls of the container, against said container outlet, sothat the combined action of compression pushes the ink contained in thecontainer, thanks to the possibility of deforming the deformable wallsof the container, by the flattening thereof, against the opening,whereby doses of ink exit towards said tank.
 20. Device according toclaim 19, characterized in that it comprises operating time controlmeans for the pressure and flattening means on the container.
 21. Deviceaccording to claim 20, characterized in that said control means comprisemeans for measuring the weight of the ink dose which exits the containeroutlet.
 22. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that saidcontrol means comprise height-measuring means, in the tank, of the fluiddispensed of the dose that exits the outlet.
 23. Device according toclaim 19, characterized in that the opening means are arranged in lowerposition, and the pressure and flattening means are adapted for exertingpressure downwards against the deformable walls of the container. 24.Device according to claim 19, characterized in that said pressure andflattening means comprise a plunger which acts on deforming thecontainer against the opening.
 25. Device according to claim 19,characterized in that said pressure and flattening means comprise atleast two antagonistic cylinders that are displaced vertically and inparallel to one another against the deformable walls of the containerand against the opening.
 26. Device according to claim 19, characterizedin that said pressure and flattening means comprise at least a cylinderwhich is simultaneously displaced downwards against the deformable wallsof the container, against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem and against the opening.
 27. Device according to claim 19,characterized in that said pressure and flattening means comprise ahandle of a connecting rod-handle mechanism actuated by a plunger,adapted for simultaneously exerting pressure against the deformablewalls of the container, against a fixed, non-deformable wall of thedispensing system and against the opening.
 28. Device according to claim19, characterized in that said pressure and flattening means comprise aplate, actuated by at least a cylinder, which exerts pressuresimultaneously and perpendicularly against the deformable walls of thecontainer and against a fixed, non-deformable wall of the dispensingsystem.